The aquaporin-4 water channel as a potential drug target in neurological disorders

• Published in: Expert opinion on therapeutic targets Vol. 21; no. 12; p. 1161
• Main Authors: Verkman, Alan S, Smith, Alex J, Phuan, Puay-Wah, Tradtrantip, Lukmanee, Anderson, Marc O
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 02.12.2017
• Subjects: Animals; Aquaporin 4 - antagonists & inhibitors; Aquaporin 4 - metabolism; Astrocytes - metabolism; Blood-Brain Barrier - metabolism; Central Nervous System - physiology; Central Nervous System - physiopathology; Central Nervous System Agents - pharmacokinetics; Central Nervous System Agents - pharmacology; Central Nervous System Diseases - drug therapy; Central Nervous System Diseases - genetics; Central Nervous System Diseases - physiopathology; Drug Design; Drug Discovery - methods; Humans; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Molecular Targeted Therapy; epilepsy; spinal cord injury; brain edema; glial scarring; neuromyelitis optica; AQP4; astrocyte; stroke

Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is a water transporting protein expressed at the plasma membrane of astrocytes throughout the central nervous system (CNS). Analysis of AQP4 knockout mice has suggested its broad involvement in brain water balance, neuroexcitation, glial scarring, neuroinflammation, and even neuro...